PHILADELPHIA – Eagles coach Doug Pederson said he was “training to win” the regular season finale Sunday night against the Washington football team despite getting quarterback Jalen Hurts in a game of three points early in the fourth quarter in favor of Nate Sudfeld.
Pederson added that it was his decision alone and not influenced by the front office, which saw the Eagles draft position improve as a result of the 20-14 loss, which handed Washington the NFC East title. A Philadelphia win would have given the 6-10 New York Giants the division through a tiebreaker.
Pederson said the plan to get into Sunday night’s game was to get Sudfeld to spend some time playing.
“Nate has been here for four years and felt he deserved the chance to get some snapshots,” Pederson said.
Pederson pushed back the idea that he was trying to lose the game by pointing out that veterans like Brandon Graham, Zach Ertz and Darius Slay were playing. However, receiver Alshon Jeffery and quarterback Carson Wentz were both healthy scratches, and the change from Hurts to Sudfeld did not consist of performance, according to Pederson.
Hurts finished 7 of 20 passing for 72 yards with an interception and two rushing touchdowns. He was dragged early in the quarter with Washington with a 17-14 lead.
“As a competitor, I play to win,” Hurts said when asked if he was disappointed to leave the game. “You just have to trust that in the coach.”
The Eagles finished the season 4-11-1 and reached the sixth pick in the April NFL draft. A victory would have moved them to ninth overall.